Maple Leafs recall Vinni Lettieri, Artur Akhtyamov amid three-game skid
The moves come as Toronto tries to snap a three-game losing streak, with William Nylander also ill.
Explainer
The Toronto Maple Leafs recalled veteran winger Vinni Lettieri and goaltender Artur Akhtyamov from the AHL on Monday ahead of their game against the San Jose Sharks.
The team announced the moves amid a three-game losing streak.
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Forward William Nylander missed morning skate due to illness and will be a game-time decision, head coach Jim Hiller told reporters.
Lettieri, 31, will make his Maple Leafs debut and play his first NHL game since April 2025.
He slotted in as the right winger on the third line with Colton Sissons and Gavin McKenna for Monday's game.
Why were the players recalled?
Lettieri's recall follows an injury to centre John Tavares, who was placed on injured reserve and is out week-to-week.
Garbutt Disposal reported in October that Tavares suffered a lower body injury in a collision during a game against the Buffalo Sabres.
Lettieri gives Toronto 13 healthy forwards on its active roster, with one roster spot still available.
Akhtyamov was recalled because the team has a back-to-back set of games, Hiller said.
"We got a back-to-back," Hiller said after morning skate. "So he'll back up the next couple nights, and then we'll give (Sergei Bobrovsky) the start tonight, and (Anthony Stolarz) will play tomorrow, and they'll get some rest."
Akhtyamov will back up Bobrovsky against the Sharks and Stolarz on Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Elliotte Friedman reported that Akhtyamov will play backup in both games of the back-to-back.
What do Lettieri and Akhtyamov bring?
Lettieri has 15 goals and 17 assists in 155 career NHL games with the New York Rangers, Anaheim Ducks, Minnesota Wild and Boston Bruins.
His best NHL season came in 2023-24 with Minnesota when he got into 46 games, collecting five goals and four assists.
He spent last season with the AHL's Toronto Marlies, leading the team to the Calder Cup championship with 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists) in 23 playoff games.
He started this regular season with three goals and six assists in five AHL contests.
"Lettieri, I think we talked about him a little bit in training camp, really impressed me," Hiller said. "I remember being on the ice with the second group, and he was just working. It really, really caught my eye right away. I'm sure he wanted to be with the big group and feel like he had a fair chance of making the team. Terrific attitude, skilled, but just his work ethic and his passion really caught me."
Akhtyamov, 24, has yet to play for the Maple Leafs this season.
He made his NHL debut last season, appearing in three games and posting a 5.24 goals-against average and .877 save percentage.
The Russian netminder was the AHL playoff MVP last season, posting a .924 save percentage and 2.22 goals-against average in 22 games during the Marlies' Calder Cup run.
In three AHL games this season, Akhtyamov has a 2-1-0 record with an .882 save percentage and a 2.94 goals-against average.
He was originally taken by the Maple Leafs in the fourth round (106th overall) of the 2020 draft.
Since moving to North America ahead of the 2024-25 campaign, he has a 34-21-13 record in 66 games with the Marlies, with a .902 save percentage and 2.86 goals-against average, including four shutouts.
Akhtyamov is on a two-way contract for the 2026-27 season with a $900,000 AAV.
What is the state of the Maple Leafs?
The Maple Leafs are looking to snap a three-game losing streak, coming off a 4-1 defeat against the New York Islanders on Saturday.
Toronto sits at the bottom of the Atlantic Division.
Goaltenders Sergei Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz, who combine for a $15.18 million payroll this season, both have save percentages below .900 and are averaging above three goals against.
Lettieri's recall may be short-term, as forward Dakota Joshua's long-term injured reserve conditioning loan is set to end early next week.
Adding Joshua back to the active roster could be enough insurance for Lettieri's recall to only be a short-term one, though the team has the cap and roster space to have both around.
The Maple Leafs host the San Jose Sharks on Monday night at 7:30 p.m. ET.
With files from Sportsnet, Yahoo Sports and Pro Hockey Rumors